Officials hope new MVD site will cut down on wait times

State officials were in Clovis and Portales Wednesday announcing the launch of a new Motor Vehicle Division website designed to streamline services.

Rick Homans, secretary of Taxation and Revenue, said the site, which debuted about two weeks ago, will help cut down on wait times at local MVD offices.

The addition of the interactive site is part of an overall effort to improve services and facilities statewide.

“This is now the bible of the MVD,” Homans said during a presentation at the Clovis-Carver Library.

“We’d like to see customers have some good experiences with it and get them talking about it.”

The website offers forms that can be filled in and downloaded from a computer to help customers be prepared when they arrive at the MVD.

The new system provides information about what type documentation is required to perform various functions. Customers can check wait times at their local MVD in advance.

The current average wait time in Clovis is 27 minutes, approximately 12 minutes greater than the overall state average, Homans said.

The website is expected to help with decrease the wait time. This, Homans said, is in addition to a renovation project to create a new state of the art office in Clovis.

“I think our office here in Clovis is probably one of the worst in the state. It’s not up to our standards and it’s not up to your standards,” he said.

“We’re proceeding with (the new office) full speed at this point.”

Architects and engineers are working on the design, Homans said, and are moving forward.

The new facility will be located adjacent to the existing one — building four in the Bruce King Complex — and plans are to more than double the size — from 1,800 to 4,000 square feet.

The Portales MVD office will also be facing changes in the near future.

With the lease up on the building housing the office, state officials say they are considering relocation and expansion.

Homans previously cited outdated and insufficient facilities coupled with a growing population at Cannon Air Force Base as catalysts for change and improvement.

Motor Vehicle Division Director Mike Sandoval said some of the other changes on the horizon will be the ability to pay with credit and debit cards, schedule appointments online and check the status of drivers license orders.

“It will be a big benefit to our customers convenience-wise,” he said.

Curry County Commissoner bobby Sandoval said the changes are long overdue and will be a great asset to the community.

“Things were done (at the MVD) the way they’ve always been done,” he said.

“We’re hearing the words now — ‘customer service’ and that’s going to make a heck of a difference.”

Homans said another feature of the website will be an area where customers can asked questions and give feedback, an enrichment to customer service.

“When there (are) problems and issues, we want to hear,” Homans said.

Homans and Mike Sandoval gave a similar presentation in Portales Wednesday afternoon.